For many, their morning does not start without a good cup of coffee, which makes me wonder when this tradition began. According to the National Coffee Association, http://www.ncausa.org/, it is not known how or when coffee was discovered, but there are many legends about its origin. Coffee growers can trace its origin back to the ancient coffee forest in Ethiopia. Legend has it that a goat herder named Kaldi first noticed these beans. Kaldi noticed that his goats were energetic after eating the beans from this tree and they did not sleep at night. Kaldi reported his findings to the head of the local monastery who then made a drink with the beans and found that it made him more alert and kept him awake at night. As word of this energizing drink spread, coffee began its journey across the globe.
By the 15th century the coffee bean was being grown in other areas. By the 17th century coffee had made its way to Europe and was becoming popular across the continent. European travelers brought back stories of the popular dark black beverage.
In the mid 1600’s, the British brought coffee to New Amsterdam. Coffee houses began to appear, but tea was still the more popular drink in the New World until the heavy tax and colonist’s revolt, known as the Boston Tea Party. This changed the American drinking favorite to coffee. Thomas Jefferson called it, “Coffee—the favorite drink of the civilized world.”
In 1714, the Mayor of Amsterdam, later known as known as New York, gave the gift of a coffee plant to King Louis XIV of France. Later a naval officer obtained a seed from this tree, which he planted. That seedling was the parent of all coffee trees throughout the Caribbean and South and Central America.
By the end of the 18th century, coffee had become one of the world’s most profitable export crops. After crude oil, coffee is the most sought-after commodity in the world.
When the Beverage Guidance Panel met and provided recommendations on benefits and risks of various beverage categories, tea and coffee (without creamer or sweetener) tied as the number two healthiest beverages, second only to water.
Studies have shown many potential benefits to coffee consumption. The National Institutes of Health–AARP Diet and Health Study, the largest-ever prospective study conducted on diet and health, found that people who drank six or more cups of coffee per day had a 10 to 15 percent lower mortality rate due to fewer deaths from heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, injuries, accidents, diabetes, and infections. However, when a study looked at people 55 and younger, the opposite effect was found: Drinking more than six cups of coffee daily was found to increase the risk of death.
The bottom line, based on all the best studies to date, is that coffee consumption may indeed be associated with a small reduction in mortality.
Even though we see health benefits in coffee, coffee is not for everyone. People with glaucoma, epilepsy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may want to stay away from caffeinated
coffee. For more information on health effects of coffee check out https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/coffee/.
Sausage Potato Cheddar Soup
1 lb ground sausage
2 potatoes, cut into cubes
1 small onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 large carrots, chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, to taste
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup flour
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup whole milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
In a stock pot, brown sausage. Add potatoes, onions, celery, carrots, garlic and onion powder, crushed red pepper, and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring, for 12-15 minutes until potatoes start to soften. Sprinkle in flour and stir until coated. Slowly add milk and chicken broth, alternating. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, then add cheddar while stirring. Finish with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy! Submitted by Jan Knowles.
